A Waikato farm company has been fined $25,400 after the death of an employee who was run over by a runaway remote-controlled tractor.
It was Gur sharan Singh's second day on the job harvesting broccoli for Sundale Farms when the tractor accelerated unexpectedly.
Sundale pleaded guilty in the Pukekohe District Court to a charge of failing to take all practicable steps to ensure Mr Singh's safety.
WorkSafe chief investigator Keith Stewart said the company did not have a failsafe device in place for the remote control system.
He said any operation using remotely managed equipment needs to have a way of stopping it without someone having to climb on.
Mr Stewart said Mr Singh was under the influence of alcohol, but the main problem was the operation was unsafe and all workers were at risk.
